Clamping sawhorse and workbench



1N VEN TOR.

A T TORNE Y fioberr 5. Hem/mg R. B.- FLEMING CLAMPING SAWHORSE AND WORKBENCH Flled Sept 9 1948 Feb. 13, 1951 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 U NIITED" STATES PATENT O FFICE.v

CLAMPING SAWHORSE AND WORKBENCH Robert B..Fleming,.l)allas, Tex..

Application September 9, 1948, Serial No. 48,367

1v Claim. 1

lhisinvention relates to sawhorse Workbenches.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sawhorse workbench which. is particularly suitable. for use by those who. only occasionally do woodworking. or repair; work in their home or Workshop, and which provides a substantialplanar working surface or. tabletop and a vise or clamping means for clampin work in position for sawing, planing, etc.

It is a. particular object of the invention to provide a sawhorse workbench with an extensive horizontal planar work. surface having: incorporated therein clamping means arranged to hold work-pieces in position for planing, sawing and the like, said clamping means forming apart of the sawhorse and workbench.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sawhorse workbench, of the character described, which is simple in structure and which may be sold and shipped knocked down, and which may be readily and. easily assembled by the user to provide a. rigid substantial workbench and vise.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a sawhorse workbench means for storing or separating screWs, nailsand the like in a position accessibleto the user.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will readily be. apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructedv in accordance with. the invention, and reference tothe'accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure l is an isometric view ofa saw-horse workbench constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 isa transverse vertical sectional view taken through one of the clamping members of the sawhorse,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the work surface of the sawhorse, and

Figure 4 is a transversevertical sectional View, similar to Figure 2, of a modified form of the clamping means for the sawhorse workbench.

In the drawings, the numeral I0. designates gen.- erally asawh-orse workbenchinits entirety. The sawhorse includes the usual angularly disposed pairs of legs I I convergingat their upper ends and joined to longitudinally extending spaced vertical brace members it and I3 having a pair of similarly spaced horizontally disposed tabletop members l 4 and i5 secured to the upper edges thereof. The tabletop member 14 is secured to the vertical brace member i2 50 as to extend horizontally outward from the upper end of said vertical brace member in substantially an inverted L- shape in cross section,.while thehorizontal tabletop-member I5 issecured at its inner end to the upper edge: of the vertical brace member l3 so as toextend horizontally outward therefrom in an oppositely directed. inverted L-shape. Supporting spa er members it. are secured between each pair of legs i! so as to abut against the lower edges of the, vertical brace members l2 and '13 to support the same against downward movement. The upper end portions of the legs I I are prefer ably fitted within upwardly and inwardly slopping grooves ll formed in the outer surfaces of the vertical brace members l2. and l3, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each pair of legs is secured to' said brace members by screws I8 extending through the leg members into the brace members and are. urged together at their upper ends by means of a tie bolt 59 which extends through each pair of legs above the spacer members it and immediately below and preferably abutting the lower edges of the vertical brace members.

The legs areconnected to the brace members at points spaced inwardly from the endsv of such brace members, and it is preferable that a substantially U-shaped reinforcing strap 29 of steel or the like-be secured by screws or otherwise to the projecting end portions of theve-rtical brace members l2 and L3, in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, for securely holdin said vertical brace members in proper spaced vertical positions. The reinforcing members are provided withv lateral extensions 21 which project horizon-tally beneath the tabletop members M and lair-for." supporting said horizontal tabletop members against downward deflection. If desired, spacer blocks 2% having, their outer ends relieved toprovide spacing shoulders 23 thereon may be secured to the lower edges of the vertical brace members t2 and 53 at spaced points in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 for assuring that the lower edge portions of; the brace members are held in spaced relationship. The bracing shoulders 23 engage the lower inner surfaces of the Vertical brace members to prevent the bracemembers from bein forced together; and the relieved or reducedouter portion of the brace members are .securedby boltsor screws or the like to the lower edge of: the vertical brace members.

The spacezfirbetween the vertical brace mem.- bers. l2 and I3 constitutes the mouth of a vise, and avertically disposed movable clamping plate or, block. 26. isadjustable. laterally in said vise mouth or space. Thaclamping block is adjusted by means of an elongate adjusting or clamping bolt 21 having an eye 28 or the like at its outer end, which bolt is threaded through the reinforcing clamp 28 and through a threaded boss 29 secured to the inner surface of said reinforcing clamp by welding or otherwise, whereby the bolt may be longitudinally adjusted. The adjusting boltextends on inwardly through an opening in the vertical brace member l2 and is provided with a head 30 at its inner end which is rotatably mounted in a socket member 3| secured in a recess in the adjustable clamp member 26 by means of screws 32, as clearly shown in Figure 2. It will be seen, therefore, that the adjusting bolt 2? may be rotated to move this clamping block 23 laterally within the vise mouth 25 between the upright brace members l2 and I3 for clamping planks, doors, or other work in the mouth between the clamping block and the upright brace member 13.

The horizontal tabletop member 14 extends inwardly into the space or opening 25 a distance equal to the thickness of the clamping block and is cut away at its inner edge adjacent the clamp block 23 to permit the block to move into the recess 35 so cut away so that the clamp block forms a continuation of the upper horizontal surface of the tabletop member I iwhen in a fully opened position, as clearly shown in Figures 1. and 2. The clamping bolts 27 are provided at each end of the sawhorse workbench, as best shown in Figure 1, and a clamping block 26 is likewise provided at each end of the sawhorse and is arranged to be retracted into a recess 35 formed in each end of the tabletop member M. However, if desired, instead of separate clamping blocks 26, a single elongate clamping member may be mounted upon the adjusting bolts 21, whereby the clamping 'member throughout the length of the gap or space 25 forming the mouth of the vise in the sawhorse workbench. Furthermore, if desired, the clamping member may be disposed so as to be withdrawn below the inwardly projecting inner edge portion of the upper tabletop member M, as clearl shown in Figure 4, whereby the tabletop member is not cutaway or interrupted and presents a smooth upper surface at all times. The elongate single clamp block will, however, be movable toward the upright brace member I 3 below the lower surface of the horizontal tabletop members and [5 to clamp material in the opening 25 between the upright members I2 and I3. When the clamping member is retracted, it will be withdrawn completely beneath the inwardly projecting lip portion of a tabletop member i i, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

Manifestly, if desired, the U-shaped brace members may be omitted, and the threaded boss or nut 29 may be mounted on the inner surface of the upright brace member l2 for providing means for longitudinal adjustment of the bolt 27 to adjust the clamping block 26 in the vise mouth.

It is preferable that a horizontal tray 40 be secured between the legs I i of the sawhorse workbench at a point spaced below the lower edge of the vertical brace members [2 and I3. The tray is provided with peripheral flange members 4|, and with dividers $2 on its upper surface for dividing the tray into sections for receiving and storing screws, nails, bolts and the like. The tray serves to maintain the lower portion of the legs in proper spaced relationship.

may extend The sawhorse workbench may be partially assembled by connecting the vertical brace members and horizontal tabletop member between the U-shaped clamp or brace straps 20, and the legs H and horizontal supporting spacer members It may be separately assembled and the entire device packaged in a. small space for shipment. The complete assembly of the legs upon the vertical brace members and the tray between the legs, in the manner illustrated in the drawings, may be completed by inserting the screws l8 and the bolts I9 to secure the legs in place in the recesses H in the brace members and by securing the tray between the legs. The sawhorse workbench is then ready to use. 7

It will be seen from the foregoing that a sawhorse workbench is provided which has an extensive horizontal tabletop providing a large planar work surface, and the space between the vertical brace members provides a vise mouth in which work may be clamped by means of the clamp members and clamping bolts 21, for planing, sawing and the like. It will also be seen that the device may be used in any manner in which a sawhorse or small workbench may be used, the

projecting portions of the tabletop members pro-' viding means for securing various tools to the workbench in the usual manner.

It will be seen also that the device may be made of hard or soft wood or metal or the like, if desired, or any desired combination of such materials. It will also be seen that the sawhorse workbench is readily adapted for shipment in knocked down condition and may be easily and quickly assembled by the user. Also, the workbench is provided with a space for storing or holding screws, nails, bolts and the like, so as to be accessible and handy for the user of the workbench. The workbench will also be seen to be small and easily transported and stored, and yet it provides a, large satisfactory working surface and a suitable clamp or vise.

While certain uses have been hereinbefore mentioned for the sawhorse workbench, it is to be understood that it may be used wherever suitable as a sawhorse, or as a support, or as a workbench, or as a standing platform or the like, and that no limitation as to use is to be implied or inferred.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A sawhorse workbench including, a pair of elongate longitudinally extending vertical brace members spaced apart laterally, legs secured to said brace members at points spaced inwardly from the ends thereof for supporting the brace members, a pair of elongate horizontally disposed tabletop members each carried by one of the ver- 'tical brace members and spaced laterally from each other whereby an elongate longitudinal extending slot is formed between the pairs of tabletop members and brace members, a clamping block disposed in the slot between the vertical brace members with its upper edge horizontally aligned with the upper surface of the tabletop members and adjustable laterally in said slot for clamping work therein, and an adjusting screw carried by one of said vertical brace members 5 2 6 and engaging the clamping block for positively UNITED STATES PATENTS adjusting and holding and securing the clamping Number Name Date block in adjusted position. 1 191 637 Gmett Jul ROBERT FLEMING- 1,404,266 Brouner Jan. 24, 1922 5 2,233,760 Wertz Mar 4, 1941 REFERENCES CITED 2,427,081 Zern Sept. 9, 1947 The following references are of record in the 2,473,323 Larson Aug. 9 1949 file of this patent: 

